NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s 70th Mr. and Miss NSU are continuing a tradition of student leadership that dates to 1956.
Owen Stutzman, a senior accounting major from Gonzales, and Lauryn Vernon, a senior biology major with a minor in dance from Arcadia, were selected as Mr. and Miss NSU for the 2026-27 academic year.
Mr. and Miss NSU are elected by the student body each fall. To qualify for the ballot, candidates must be full-time seniors in good standing with at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and receive nominations from at least five certified recognized student organizations.
Stutzman said he never expected to be selected as Mr. NSU and has focused his time at NSU on serving the university and its students.
“I’ve always just been the guy who wants to give back to Northwestern and keep serving,” Stutzman said. “I love everybody at Northwestern, and I have had such an amazing experience, so it’s been such an honor.”
During his time at NSU, Stutzman has held leadership roles in Freshman Connection, Pi Kappa Phi, the Interfraternity Council, Blue Key Honor Society and Order of Omega. He served on Freshman Connection in 2024 and 2025 before becoming student coordinator in 2026 and has also been involved in Demon VIP, Beta Alpha Psi, Alpha Lambda Delta and the President’s Leadership Program.
Through Pi Kappa Phi’s philanthropic efforts with The Ability Experience, Stutzman raised $7,500 individually and contributed to more than $50,000 raised collectively during his time at NSU.
He said being part of the 70-year tradition has made him reflect on the generations of student leaders who have represented the university.
“It blows my mind that there are 70 individual students that have been selected for Mr. and Miss NSU,” Stutzman said. “I really think about all of the student leaders that Northwestern has created for so long. Northwestern has such a unique ability to create student leaders.”
Vernon said she came to NSU hoping to make an impact on those around her and views being selected as Miss NSU as recognition of the relationships she has built within the university community.
“Stepping foot on this campus, the first thing I wanted to do was to make an impact on people,” Vernon said. “The fact that they thought that I was worthy enough and that I would represent this honor with pride just goes to show that I was able to be a friend and be a smile to the people around me.”
Vernon has held leadership roles across campus, including serving as captain of the Purple Pizzazz Pom Line and president of the Theta Chi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She has also been involved in the President’s Leadership Program, Alpha Lambda Delta, Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Purple Jackets, Demon VIP, Freshman Connection, Order of Omega and the NSU Dance Company.
Her experience in the President’s Leadership Program helped inspire Set Apart, a youth-focused initiative centered on leadership, faith and service that she created through her involvement in the Miss Louisiana Organization.
Vernon said she hopes she and Stutzman can use the honor as an opportunity to continue serving others and add to the tradition for future Mr. and Miss NSU recipients.
“I don’t want it to go down as just a plaque that we get and we just walk off the football field,” Vernon said. “I hope that we can start a tradition that can continue to go on for years and years and just continue to impact the people around us. Hopefully we will use it to keep serving and loving on our community.”